Many career paths are unplanned. As specialists in insurance communications, we hear from insurance professionals all the time who found their way to their professions through unplanned or unexpected means. The same can be true of public relations. Whether it’s journalism, marketing or human resources—the PR field is uniquely suited to diverse backgrounds. That is why we are sharing this blog series breaking down how our team members came to find their current PR roles. For any new grads trying to figure out what they want to do, or even established professionals looking to make a change, we hope this series can shed some light on the PR field.  

What did you go to school for? 

Communications with a concentration in PR. It took me three semesters to decide on my major, but I always loved writing, so communications seemed like a natural fit.  

What did you envision your job would be?  

Just like when choosing my major, I was undecided. I thought about working for a non-profit, going into government PR or working a beauty brand. Ultimately, working at an agency, with a natural range of client types, allows me to do a little bit of everything I always hoped I might do in this field.  

What was your first job out of college?  

After college I ran an Instagram page selling second-hand clothes from my parents’ house! I also waitressed on the side. My first real job was working at a PR agency specializing in real estate and beauty PR. I worked with a variety of B2B and B2C clients, including residential builders, property management companies, a haircare line and a hand sanitizer brand.  

How did you end up in your current role? 

After being laid off in early 2025, I worked in email marketing for a few months before ultimately recognizing that PR was my true calling. After that, I set out to find another job at a PR agency and came across Kimball Hughes PR on LinkedIn. I was unsure about working in insurance at first. However, now I enjoy it a lot and have been able to learn about a lot of interesting industries through the lens of insurance, including commercial property construction and beauty.  

What has surprised you most about your career or yourself given your current role? 

When I started in PR, I thought working for glamorous industries, like beauty or celebrity PR would be what I enjoyed the most. After having the opportunity to work in those fields and now being in the insurance industry, I’ve been surprised I enjoy working with seemingly less-glamorous industries more. It’s been interesting to push myself outside of my comfort zone and learn about industries I probably never would have had the chance to before.  

What have you learned from your career journey? 

Having confidence in yourself and not being afraid to fail is vital to growing professionally. Sometimes I have had to follow the fake-it-til-you-make-it mindset, but having the courage to go outside of my comfort zone and make mistakes is what has allowed me to grow and add to my knowledge base.  

What lesson or myth-busting idea would you want to share with someone thinking about a career in public relations? 

For someone thinking about a career in public relations, I recommend starting out at an agency. Doing so provides exposure to a range of client types and industries you cannot get working for a single brand or going in-house. Agency life moves at a fast pace. It forces you to multi-task and move from industry to industry all in the course of a single day. This career path allows you to find the types of accounts you enjoy (and don’t enjoy) and flex your skills across accounts with different needs.